Phlox plant named ‘Sunphlobuho’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Sunphlobuho’, characterized by its compact and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; light violet-colored flowers with dark violet-colored central star; freely and continuous flowering habit; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Phlox drummondii.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Sunphlobuho’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox,botanically known as Phlox drummondii and hereinafter referred to by thename ‘Sunphlobuho’.

The new Phlox is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program wasto create new compact Phlox cultivars with attractive flower coloration.

The new Phlox originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventorin June, 2002, in Shiga, Japan, of a proprietary selection of Phloxdrummondii identified as code number 2Ph-43a, not patented, as thefemale, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Phlox drummondiiidentified as code number 2Ph-43b, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Phlox was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled environment in Shiga, Japan.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phlox by vegetative cuttings in acontrolled environment in Shiga, Japan since October, 2004, has shownthat the unique features of this new Phlox are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Sunphlobuho has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Sunphlobuho’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Sunphlobuho’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofPhlox:

-   -   1. Compact and mounding plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Light violet-colored flowers with dark violet-colored central        star.    -   5. Freely and continuous flowering habit.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Compared to plants of the female parent selection, plants of the newPhlox are larger and differ in flower coloration. Compared to plants ofthe male parent selection, plants of the new Phlox are smaller anddiffer in flower coloration.

Plants of the new Phlox can also be compared to plants of the cultivarParona Light Blue, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conductedin Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Phlox and the cultivar Parona LightBlue differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox were taller and more spreading than        plants of the cultivar Parona Light Blue.    -   2. Plants of the new Phlox were more vigorous than plants of the        cultivar Parona Light Blue.    -   3. Plants of the new Phlox were more freely branching than        plants of the cultivar Parona Light Blue.    -   4. Plants of the new Phlox had smaller leaves than plants of the        cultivar Parona Light Blue.    -   5. Plants of the new Phlox were more freely flowering than        plants of the cultivar Parona Light Blue.    -   6. Plants of the new Phlox and the cultivar Parona Light Blue        differed in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Phlox, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Phlox.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunphlobuho’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typicalflowers of ‘Sunphlobuho’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Shiga, Japan, under commercialpractice during the spring and summer in an outdoor nursery with daytemperatures averaging 23° C. and night temperatures averaging 12° C.After planting, plants had been growing for about four months when thephotographs and description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox drummondii cultivar Sunphlobuho.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox            drummondii identified as code number 2Ph-43a, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox            drummondii identified as code number 2Ph-43b, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About two to three weeks at 20° C.            to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant roots.—About one to two            months at 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; ivory white to pale brown            in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form/habit.—Compact and mounded plant habit; outwardly            spreading; vigorous growth habit. Freely branching habit;            pinching enhances branching potential.        -   Plant height.—About 15.2 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 28 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 13.2 cm. Diameter: About            1.5 mm. Internode length: About 6 mm. Strength: Strong.            Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 3.4 cm.        -   Width.—About 1 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: 139D.            Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: 138A; venation, 137A.            Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: 137B; venation, 137B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single rotate hypocraterimorphous flowers            arranged in terminal and axillary cymes; flowers face            obliquely upward. Panicles conical in shape. Freely            flowering habit with about 64 flower buds and flowers            developing per plant.        -   Fragrance.—Moderate.        -   Natural flowering season.—Continuously flowering from spring            to late autumn in Shiga, Japan. Flowers not persistent.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about five days on            the plant.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About 3.1 mm.            Shape: Clavate. Color: N81D.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 2.8 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 5 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3.1 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 1.7 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube. Length:            About 1.4 cm. Lobe width: About 1.1 cm. Shape: Broadly            rhombic. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Developing petals,            upper surface: 85B, star, 83B; towards the throat, N81A.            Developing petals, lower surface: 85D. Fully expanded            petals, upper surface: 85D to 84D; star, 86B; towards the            throat, N81A. Fully expanded petals, lower surface: 85D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl, fused at base; star-shaped calyx. Length: About            6.3 mm. Width: About 0.7 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 138A.        -   Peduncle.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 1.1 mm.            Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 4.4 mm. Diameter: About 0.8 mm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            five. Stamen length: About 5 mm to 12 mm. Anther shape:            Linear. Anther size: About 2.3 mm by 0.9 mm. Anther color:            13B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 13A. Pistils:            Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 5.2 mm.            Stigma shape: Three-parted. Stigma color: 145D. Style color:            145D. Ovary color: 143B.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Phlox have not been noted    to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Phlox.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to    have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and    temperatures from about 0° C. to about 35° C.

1. A new and distinct Phlox plant named ‘Sunphlobuho’ as illustrated anddescribed.